522 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



A second and important use of salt is the favorable in- 

 fluence which it exerts upon the appetite. It renders foods 

 more palatable and, therefore, when judiciously used in 

 preparing them, increases their consumption. But, to feed 

 quantities abnormally large would lead to harmful results 

 as shown below. The craving for salt is influenced to some 

 extent by natural location and also by the food. Animals 

 grazed near the sea frequently secure a sufficient supply 

 from the herbage upon which they feed. Relatively large 

 quantities seem to be required by animals grazing on plants 

 watery in character, as young grass and succulent rape. 



A third action of salt is to increase the excretion of 

 urine, which may probably in part explain the craving for 

 much salt by animals on watery food. This explains also 

 why animals which are given much salt, drink much water. 

 The consumption of much salt accompanied by an insuffi- 

 cient supply of water, would result in diverting to the kid- 

 teys water that would otherwise pass off through the 

 organs of respiration, and in consequence there would be 

 a more or less quick loss of weight. When abnormally 

 large quantities of salt are taken, this is followed by the 

 drinking of abnormally large quantities of water, which re- 

 sults in a waste of nutrients in the body through increased 

 protein consumption. Death has even resulted from al- 

 lowing cows to drink large quantities of brine, which had 

 been used in salting pork. 



It is particularly desirable, therefore, that domestic ani- 

 mals shall be given enough salt at all times to meet their 

 needs, and that they shall not be given an excess of the 

 same. It is scarcely possible to adjust the amount of salt 

 given to the exact needs of the animals in any other way 

 than by giving them constant access to it, that they 

 may take it at will. If supplied only at intervals, they 

 take it to excess, but not otherwise, although it has been 

 claimed that some horses will eat it in excess even under 

 the conditions stated above. 



